In a conversation with co-star Adrienne Maloof, she speaks of her first anxiety attacks, beginning in her 20’s. The time frame seems to coincide with the sudden death of her boyfriend, murdered while she was on the telephone with him.

Don’t get me wrong, I am aware of the fact that this woman has led a charmed life, but like many of those who go from the limelight to obscurity, she had no “bootstraps” to pull on her big girl boots with.

Add to all that an extremely toxic family. Once she was no longer the breadwinner, she was probably cast aside. Imagine Big Kathy’s disappointment when Kim gave up her acting career at 18 and demanded her money. (whatever was left of it). Make no mistake about the fact that she was the breadwinner, look at her IMDB. This girl had no childhood.

Add to the mix the unseen but very present entities: Rick and Kathy Hilton. Half-sister Kathy may not be able to control her children, Paris and Nicki, but she seems to control her younger sisters. Who would Mauricio Umansky be without Rick Hilton?

Kim has been paraded around by the family ever since she got out of rehab. She admits to being an alcoholic, but she is fragile and unstable. Whatever her medications, they can’t be anything less than lethal with alcohol. Her inclusion on the reunion was an attempt to keep her employed on the show because she needs the money. Andy Cohen clearly interviewed her to pave her way for next season while covering Bravo TV’s ass.

In light of the recent death of Whitney Houston, at the same age Kim Richards is now, it seems downright criminal to let her return to the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. We will wait and see if Kim can surround herself with good people and keep herself sober. Wishing her well.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta season 2 starts off with playing catch up on the ladies lives, leaving mostly fill in the blanks for answers. NeNe has a new house, without mention of why they left the old one. This house, like the one Lynne Curtin lived in last season on The Real Housewives of Orange County, looks like another of Bravo’s leases for the show.